Need help with list (and should I even apply DO?)

[Mr. MCAT]

---

Members do not see this ad.

cGPA: 3.55
sGPA: 3.48
MCAT: 38

I am a California resident and would like to stay in California. After doing some MSAR research, I have come up with a list of MD schools. Let me know if my stats can make it or if I should apply to DO schools (though I REALLY don't want to do that application since my MCAT score is high). I know the names I include aren't the exact names of the schools, but I'm sure you will know what I'm talking about. Am I setting my expectations too high? I really don't have a clue here I feel like...

Reach:
UC Los Angeles
UC Irvine
UC San Diego
Keck SOM
Albert Einstein
University of Colorado

Target:
UC Riverside
UC Davis
Oregon
St. Louis
Utah
Eastern Virginia

Fallback:
Temple University
University of Vermont
Rush Medical College
University of South Carolina SOM


Here are some more stats:
100 hours PACU volunteer
1500 hours clinical experience for ED scribing
100 hours volunteer at Santa Cruz county medical society
300 hours of KZSC radio disc jockey volunteer
100 hours as kzsc mentor/TA volunteer
80 hours shadowing experience with paramedics
NO RESEARCH EXPERIENCE 🙁

A ton of work experience (I pretty much worked during all of college) including:
Pet store employee
UCSC orientation leader
AVID tutor
Taco hell
Central Valley After school Foundation
And I'm probably about to get a job with Kaplan as an MCAT teacher soon

Also I have good LORs from doctors I work with and two from professors.

I speak Spanish pretty proficiently. Not fluent by any means.

I know the biggest things holding me back are lack of research and GPA. Should I attempt to get some research hours? Even though its way too late? That way I can always apply next year if I don't get in. I definitely want to go to medical school this year, though. I know all the California schools are research based which is the main reason I'm concerned I won't be able to get in.

 

[singergirl18]

I don't know much about California schools, but IMHO if I were in your position I would not apply DO UNLESS YOU TRULY WANT TO BE A DO. With that MCAT and those clinical experiences, I would think you would do well in MD school admissions even without the research. I think you are in a position where you will have a good chance of being able to go the MD path. If unsuccessful, you could always try to get some research experience, and then I am sure you would be EXTRA GOLDEN.

If you do want to go to a DO school, I know CCOM is really good. I have a lot of friends who are really happy there, but I am partial since I am an Illinois resident.

Sorry I can't help much with the schools. 🙁

 

[Goro]

This kills your chances at any research heavy school.

NO RESEARCH EXPERIENCE 🙁

You can't have your cake and eat it too. If you don't want to be a DO, then the two CA schools are out.

I am a California resident and would like to stay in California. After doing some MSAR research, I have come up with a list of MD schools. Let me know if my stats can make it or if I should apply to DO schools (though I REALLY don't want to do that application since my MCAT score is high). I know the names I include aren't the exact names of the schools, but I'm sure you will know what I'm talking about. Am I setting my expectations too high? I really don't have a clue here I feel like...

Goro suggests:

Loma Linda
UC Riverside (do you meet the needs of the Inland Empire?)
UC Davis
St. Louis
Eastern Virginia
VCU
Temple University
University of Vermont
Rush Medical College
All new MD schools
Creighton
Loyola
MCW
Wake Forest
Tulane
NYMC
Albany
Tufts
Rosy Franklin
Jefferson
Drexel
Penn State

Get some research experience and you'll be a more competitive candidate. Suggest applying next year.

I know the biggest things holding me back are lack of research and GPA. Should I attempt to get some research hours? Even though its way too late? That way I can always apply next year if I don't get in. I definitely want to go to medical school this year, though. I know all the California schools are research based which is the main reason I'm concerned I won't be able to get in.[

 

[Mr. MCAT]

Thank you so much for responding. I have been freaking out and delaying sending my app because I've had no feedback. It means a lot. And thanks for the boost of confidence, I may apply to DO anyway but definitely going to focus on my MD app primarily. I'll probably apply this year and do research anyway in case I don't get in.

 

[UW med student]

Thank you so much for responding. I have been freaking out and delaying sending my app because I've had no feedback. It means a lot. And thanks for the boost of confidence, I may apply to DO anyway but definitely going to focus on my MD app primarily. I'll probably apply this year and do research anyway in case I don't get in.

You're probably competitive enough to get into an MD school if you apply to enough schools but CA is particularly competitive and with your GPA holding you back you may have to either settle for an MD somewhere else or try for DO to get closer to CA. Make sure you apply to a decent number of schools and not just ones on the west coast. Do not ever delay your applications for anything, all schools are rolling admissions and review apps in the order they receive them. The longer you wait to have your apps submitted and complete the more students who are in front of you and schools do run out of interview invites to give out pretty quickly. Good luck

 

[csx]

If you have to ask "should I even apply to DO schools." you shouldn't apply. Apply only if you really believe in their philosophy and you'd pick DO over MD. That said, I'd go MD if I were you. You'll get in somewhere with those stats.